Charleston, SC

After several great evenings at fantastic anchorages we made our way to Charleston.  The last bridge that we needed to open was the Ben Sawyer Bridge.  It is another old swing bridge in need of repair.  Repairs are slated for the second week in November and will be closed to waterway boat traffic for approximately ten days.  This is a "on request" bridge that opens at any time without restrictions.  As the bridge started to open all hell broke loose. We were almost ready to pass through when the bridge started to close causing us to quickly change our course. Then all of a sudden we heard sirens!  We both looked and saw fire engines and emergency equipment needing to cross the bridge.  The bridge tender then radioed to us that as soon as he got the permission to open, he would do so.  In the mean time, Makai was fighting the current and shallow sides.  We sat and waited.  It was a delay of an hour.  As we started our way into Charleston harbor, it started to rain.  Not just a drizzle but a downpour!  So with rain gear on we continued to the anchorage which is directly across from Charleston City Marina. The anchorage is dotted with old boats that seem to be abandoned.  The other problem that we have had is the black birds.  They seem to be attracted to the boats every morning and every evening. You need to be on "bird watch" and chase them away!

The city of Charleston is a peninsula bordered by the Ashley river on one side and the Cooper river on the other.  These two rivers merge into what is called the Charleston Harbor, and follow a common channel out into the Atlantic.  The harbors entrance which is most impressive if Fort Sumter.  There are two other historical forts that were built to guard the harbor at different times in history --- Fort Moultrie and Fort Johnson.  Fort Sumter is the fort where the civil war began in 1861 when Confederate troops fired on the Union garrison manning the fort.  This was the first shot fired in the Civil War.  We enjoy the city and will wait out the rain and hopefully head outside for an overnight trip down to Fernandia, FL.